The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-02-17
DOWN IN TEXAS.
How Thcy Conduct Elections In tho Lone
F.NIH. Sthr Stntn aNH

AoW 1ncy SOnuuct EtoctlOnB In tho Lone
Star State.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1G.-Forty or fifty
gentlemen from Texas, white and colored,
gathered in tho Senate corridor near tho
room Of the Committee on Privileges and
Elections this morning, awaiting examine.
ton in respect to the alleged political
Irregularities inWashington county, Texas,
Heretofore, when in vestigations Of this
character have been undertaken by Sen.
ate committees, it has been the prsctice
to open the doors to all comers-a practice
which has resulted in great inconvenience
to the committee by reason OF miscellau-
ecus crowds, formed largely of people who
were impelled by curiosity alone, to at
tend tho sittings. Tho present committee
has decided as 8 general principle to ad.
init only the witnesses under examination,
the counsel on both sides and the press
Ex. Congressman Giddings, Of Texas, was
present this morning. R
Tho colored witness, T. NJ. Jones, whose
examination was begun yesterday, was
again called to the stand. In reply to
Senator spooner he said his brother, aged
80 years, came to the voting place to bring
witness his supper. The brother-so far
as witness was aware-was not armed,
He has since been hanged presumably
for connection with the election riot
though this point was not developed.) He
was Republican. =
J. NJ. Nicholson, white, Gl years OF age.
o planter, twenty yearb q resident Of
Washington county,, was next examined.
He was Democrat until three years $50 ;
aince when he has voted the PEOPLES
ticket. He was appointed manager Of the
election at Chadwick's gin house, but be-
ing.ill no wss requested to select some
good man to serve in his stead. For this
purpose he attended the polls and re-.
NAMED all day.
Question by Senator Spooner-"Was
there an election there that day 2" I
"No, SIR" 49,
"Well, why? Won't you explain that 2"
well, am almost ashamed to state-I
couldn't get anyone who could write,
Thefe were three or four who could write.
but they didn't wish to serve"
Witness explained that there were be.
tween ninety and ninety-fve voters, forty-
five Of whom were white. Thirty of the
latter we're Polanders. Most OF the white
property owners Of the precinct lived in
another precinct. d
TIE VOTE SUPPRESSED,
In reply to Senator Spooner. witness
said that at the last election prior to that
which was the sabjeet OF investigation.
serious trouble had occurred at Chapel
Hill, when two men, one being an election
officer, were shot. Tho ballot box was
taken and tho vote suppressed. Witness
did not think that this occurrence had the
elect OF deterring tho colored men at
Chadwlck'sfrom serylngas election officerp.
There we're only four OF the freedmen who
could write. Two were not present and
one Of the others had been in the peni.
tentiary and for that reason WAS not com
Peteat. The yoters were present, but re-
peated efforts to organizs board failed.
Witness said he announced that about
10 o'clock in the morning that there wouid
be no vote, but later he said ho o'misunder.
stood the question and that it was about
that time he announced his readiness TO
deliver the papers whenever competent
board should be organized.
In reply to Senator Eusis, witness said
the vote Of the precinct was about evenly
divided. The Republicans might have a
majority of four or five. No one had de-
clined to aerve by reason OF fear or per.
sonal injury. Only four Of the white
voters OF the precinct could read aud write
English and they were prevented from
serving by illnees or business.
In anawer to Senator spooner, ,witness
said he thought no one WAS punished for
the Chapel Hill outlage-no one knew
who did it. In answer to Senator Eustis.
witness said Mr.. J. L. Moore Tone Of tha
memorialists to Congress) WAS Sheriff at
the time Of the Chapel Hill outrage.
The committee then took recess till
three this afternoon.z, NJ
q. MEME, ID, INTIMIDATION. 4is
y After the recess, Lewis 2. Pennington
(colored) was called to the witness chair.
He is voter at Flewellyns precinct; was
one Of the judges OF election last Noyem-
Der. He told tho story OF the assault up-
on the election officers by three armed
masked men, who demanded and took
awsy the ballot box, the shooting Of
Deweee Bolton, one OF the raiders, and the
subse auant hanging OF Ephrsim .lonaa